Machine Head – Burn My Eyes

Machine Head’s debut album Burn My Eyes was released in 1994 and became and Roadrunner Records’ fastest-ever-selling-debut for a time. The album was a refreshing mixture of thrash and groove riffs, with a unique singer and a superbly unique and instantly identifiably style. Call it Post-Thrash or Groove Metal if you like, Burn My Eyes is a terrific metal album in general regardless of how you choose to categorize it.

Burn My Eyes is one of those absolute classic albums that makes it into everyone’s lists of best ever metal albums, in the same league as Vulgar Display/Demanufactue/Chaos AD, like all the best almost-accessible but blisteringly heavy 1990s metal.

I have had this album for a very long time, at least a decade and as such have listened to it countless times. One thing has always remained constant over all those years, the opening track ‘Davidian,’ is amazing! I will often claim that it is the single best Machine Head track to date. Sometimes I’ll claim it is the best by a slim lead or other times, by a wide margin. Regardless, if you are intrigued by the idea of getting into Machine Head then make it your business to hear that song at once.

If you’ve only heard newer material, it may surprise you when you hear how different Rob Flynn’s voice is. Back in 1994 he didn’t do any of the clean or rap style vocals found on later albums, but even his normal voice is hugely different too, which may surprise some. What else may surprise you is the sheer aggression to be found on the cd, the album is ferocious to a degree practically unparalleled in the rest of the band’s discography.

At first; you may dislike Burn My Eyes at a gut level, it may seem unusual and you won’t understand how it attained such a revered status. The thing is that Machine Head are really unique, to the point where sometimes it sounds like they are ‘Playing Wrong.’ If you find this to be the case, stick with the album and you’ll be rewarded with a serious grower. It may seem odd on first inspection, but some of the riffs, a lot of the tonal choices and the majority of the song structures are really atypical for metal bands and this results is a wonderfully unique album that stands completely alone in musical history.

Standout tracks include the aforementioned ‘Davidian,’ the concert favourite ‘Old,’ and my personal favourite song ‘The Rage To Overcome,’ which contains both on of my favourite ever riffs and arguably Machine Head’s best guitar solo.
Overall, I think Burn My Eyes is a really strong and singular album which deserves its place on best of lists and greatest album countdowns. The album still forms a significant chunk of the band’s live repertoire, which speaks volumes for both its own quality and the devotion it inspires in the fans. I can’t recommend Burn My Eyes enough.